Chatwal turned himself in at the Fifth Precinct at 7 a.m. — with a “strong odor of alcohol on his breath,” prosecutors said.

Chatwall, 44, fidgeted in his chair in court before his afternoon arraignment on a felony charge of criminal mischief and misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, reckless endangerment and arson, looking extremely tired as he waited to appear before Manhattan criminal Judge Steven Statsinger.

His lawyer, Arthur Aidala, denied during the hearing that the Dream, Time and Night hotel founder tried to burn the pair of Jack Russell Terriers — describing him as an animal lover who owns six dogs and a horse.

“[Chatwal] is known for being someone who is a gentle, sweet man,” said Aidala, who showed the judge pictures of Chatwal “hugging dogs and kissing dogs.”

“We intend to vigorously contest all charges,” he said. “Most important thing — the dogs were not injured.”

But prosecutors painted a much different picture of Chatwal.

“This case involved the defendant running out on the street … screaming, ‘The dogs must die!’ and [lighting] the dog on fire,” said Assistant District Attorney Erin Satterthwaite. “The witness said the defendant lit one of the dogs on fire … He is also on video holding a can and lighter. The dogs did have to be treated by the ASPCA.”

Chatwal was released on $50,000 bond and ordered to surrender his passport. An order of protection was issued in favor of the pooches’ dog walker at the time.

“I think it’s great that he’s been apprehended and charged. He’s clearly an extremely disturbed person,” Kelly told The Post.

Outside the courtroom, Chatwal’s co-counsel, Mark Jay Heller, said the hotelier was bipolar” and currently taking antidepressant medication that may alter the way he acts.

“The antidepressant medication has a side effect of disorientation,” Heller said. “He himself has had a more emotional experience than the dogs.”

Chatwal’s next court appearance is Dec. 8. Aidala said they plan to reach out to the DA’s office to try and persuade them to drop the case.

“Between now and then we plan to present the prosecutors office with evidence showing them that their theory of the case is incorrect and that this 60 to 90 second incident has been totally blown out of proportion and totally misconstrued,” he said. “What his reputation is and what he’s accused of are diametrically opposed. They’re two opposite narratives of the same human being.”